For more than 20 years, FoBAB has united the country’s premier barrel-aged brewing programs—showcasing brewers who expertly fuse art and science, wood and bourbon, timing and technique—in a singular celebration of craftsmanship and innovation. This year, over 170 breweries nationwide have submitted their rarest and most exclusive wood- and barrel-aged beers, ciders, meads, and perries for judging. Discover the full list of participating breweries below.
2024 FOBAB BEST IN SHOW
Hidden Hand Brewery – Oaked Val d’Or – Naperville, IL
2024 FOBAB BEST IN SHOWRUNNER UP
More Brewing Company Villa Park – Mehndi 2023 – Villa Park, IL
STRONG PORTER + STOUT
GOLD – Breakside Brewery & Taproom – Somebody New in the Old West – Milwaukie, OR
SILVER – White Oak Brewing – Into the Thick of It – Normal, IL
BRONZE – Firestone Walker – ParAmburana – Paso Robles, CA
STRONG PORTER + STOUT
GOLD – Cahaba Brewing Company – Romulus – Birmingham, AL
SILVER – Old Irving Brewing Company – Champurrado Krampus – Chicago, IL
BRONZE – Half Acre Beer Co. – Benthic 2 x 4 – Chicago, IL
BARLEYWINE/WHEATWINE
GOLD – Verboten Brewing – Double Oaked Cognac Grow Old With You – Loveland, CO
SILVER – Kros Strain Brewing – Barrelywine Vol.12 Single Barrel – LaVista, NE
BRONZE – Brothership Brewing – Noble Cask – Mokena, IL
BLENDED BEER
GOLD – The Lost Abbey – Serpent’s Kiss Imperial Stout for the Rare Beer Club 30th Anniversary – Vista, CA
SILVER – Third Eye Brewing – Barrel Aged Private Consciousness – Hamilton, OH
BRONZE – Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project – Grow In Darkness – Loveland, CO
OTHER PALE BEER
GOLD – Bubblehouse Brewing – That Escalated Swiftly – Lisle, IL
SILVER – Forbidden Root – Well Positioned – Oak Aged Saison – Chicago, IL
BRONZE – Sketchbook Brewing – Tripel G – Belgian Style Tripel – Skokie, IL
LAGERS
GOLD – Elmhurst Brewing – BA Elevator – Elmhurst, IL
SILVER – Kros Strain Brewing – Barrel-Aged Czech Dark Lager – LaVista, NE
BRONZE – Solemn Oath Brewery – Foederface – Naperville, IL
OTHER DARK BEER
GOLD – Half Acre Beer Co. – Orin – Chicago, IL
SILVER – Loose Ends Brewing – NPN – Applejack Brandy Barrel Aged – Centerville, OH
BRONZE – Sun King Brewery – Diddy Muckle – Fishers, IN
FRUIT BEER
GOLD – Revolution Brewing – Cherry V.S.O.J. – Chicago, IL
SILVER – Sun King Brewery – Soul Shakedown Party – Indianapolis, IN
BRONZE – Cruz Blanca Brewery – La Locura – Chicago, IL
SPECIALTY + EXPERIMENTAL
GOLD – Black Horizon Brewing – From Earth To You – Willowbrook, IL
SILVER – G5 Brewing Company – Eternal Burning – McFarland, WI
BRONZE – Cruz Blanca Brewery – Tepache Cowboy – Chicago, IL
WILD BEER BRETT
GOLD – Off Color Brewing – Funky Beer for Tacos – Chicago, IL
SILVER – Benchtop Brewing Company – Baby – Richmond, VA
BRONZE – Boulevard Brewing Company – Foeder 7 – Kansas City, MO
WILD BEER MIXED CULTURE (ACIDIC)
GOLD – Milieu Fermentation Company – SMOL – Aurora, CO
SILVER – Ike & Oak Brewing – Cutbow – Woodridge, IL
BRONZE – Imperial Oak Brewing-Brookfield Blanc Brookfield, IL
WILD BEER MIXED CULTURE (ACIDIC) W/ FRUIT
GOLD – Pryes Brewing – Idyll Forest: 2024 Soirée – Minneapolis, MN
SILVER – Firestone Walker Brewing – Primal Elements with Pink Guava and Pineapple – Buellton, CA
BRONZE – Lupulin Brewing Company – Star Damage – Calamansi & Sabro – Big Lake, MN
CIDER/PERRY/MEAD
GOLD – Misbeehavin’ Meads – Clint’s Apple Pie – Valparaiso, IN
SILVER – Misbeehavin’ Meads – Stake in the Tart – Valparaiso, IN
BRONZE – Right Bee Cider – Barrel-Aged Clementine – Chicago, IL
The Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer
The Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer (FoBAB), held annually in Chicago, stands as the nation’s premier competition and tasting event dedicated exclusively to barrel-aged beers, ciders, meads, and perries. Founded in 2002 by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, FoBAB attracts more than 170 breweries from coast to coast, each submitting their rarest, most meticulously crafted expressions—beers patiently matured in oak barrels once home to bourbon, rye, wine, or spirits, yielding layers of vanilla, caramel, smoke, and fruit that dance with the base brew’s character. Over a single weekend in November, hundreds of entries are blind-judged by BJCP-certified experts across dozens of style categories, crowning gold, silver, and bronze medals in a celebration of patience and precision. Attendees then flood the festival floor for a grand public tasting, sampling limited-release pours poured straight from the wood, an immersive showcase where innovation meets tradition in every glass.
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